Gynecological Endocrinology (Dec 2024)

Arm muscle area is correlated to handgrip strength in postmenopausal women

  • Ludwig R. Álvarez-Córdova,
  • Reyes Artacho,
  • Peter Chedraui,
  • Cecilia Arteaga-Pazmiño,
  • Melissa Sánchez-Briones,
  • María D. Ruiz-López

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2024.2420937
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 40, no. 1

Abstract

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Objective To analyze the correlation between arm muscle area and handgrip strength among postmenopausal community dwelling low-income women in order to provide an easy anthropometric indicator to assess muscle mass quantity and quality.Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving postmenopausal women (n = 171) from three urban-marginal communities of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Corrected arm muscle area was calculated using the Frisancho formula. Dynapenia was defined as HGS < 16 kg. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was calculated at a 5% significance level to test the correlation between corrected arm muscle area and handgrip strength.Results Median (interquartile range: IQR) age of the sample was 72.0 years (17.0). The median of corrected arm muscle area was 34.8 cm2 (20.7). The overall prevalence of dynapenia was 57.9% (n = 99). There was a significant decreasing trend with age regarding all anthropometric characteristics and handgrip strength, as well as a higher prevalence of dynapenia with age. For the whole sample, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between corrected arm muscle area and handgrip strength [r = 0.267; p < .001].Conclusion: There was a significant yet weak positive correlation between corrected arm muscle area and handgrip strength in this postmenopausal sample. There is a need for additional research in this regard.

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